What does בָּעַל (bāʿal) mean in the Bible?
בָּעַל (bāʿal): Mastery semantically grounds marriage; the husband exercises proprietary dominion over the wife in patriarchal ideology
Hebrew · H1166
בָּעַל
To be master ; hence, to marry
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בָּעַלH1166
Pronunciationbāʿal
What does בָּעַל (bāʿal) mean in the Bible?
בָּעַל (bāʿal): Mastery semantically grounds marriage; the husband exercises proprietary dominion over the wife in patriarchal ideology
Full entry for בָּעַל (H1166) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1166?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include marries (3), . . . (1), am your master (1), and be her husband (1), Beulah (1).
Where does בָּעַל (bāʿal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 20:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (7), Deuteronomy (3), Jeremiah (2), 1 Chronicles (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itmarries3×Deuteronomy 24:1, Proverbs 30:23, Isaiah 62:5
. . .1×Deuteronomy 22:22
am your master1×Jeremiah 3:14
and be her husband1×Deuteronomy 21:13
Beulah1×Isaiah 62:4
by marrying1×Malachi 2:11
have ruled over us1×Isaiah 26:13
is a married1×Genesis 20:3
of her who has a husband1×Isaiah 54:1
ruled1×1 Chronicles 4:22
was a husband1×Jeremiah 31:32
will be His bride1×Isaiah 62:4
will marry you1×Isaiah 62:5
your husband1×Isaiah 54:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 20:3בְּעֻ֥לַתtois a marriedVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular constructDeuteronomy 21:13וּבְעַלְתָּ֔הּtoand be her husbandConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 22:22בְעֻֽלַת־to. . .Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular constructDeuteronomy 24:1וּבְעָלָ֑הּtomarriesConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular1 Chronicles 4:22בָּעֲל֥וּtoruledVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralProverbs 30:23תִבָּעֵ֑לtomarriesVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularIsaiah 26:13בְּעָל֥וּנוּtohave ruled over usVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural | first person common pluralIsaiah 54:1בְעוּלָ֖הtoof her who has a husbandVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singularIsaiah 54:5בֹעֲלַ֙יִךְ֙toyour husbandVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singularIsaiah 62:4בְּעוּלָ֑הtoBeulahVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 20:3
Aligned rows16
Books represented7
Genesis1Deuteronomy31 Chronicles1Proverbs1Isaiah7Jeremiah2Malachi1
Source forms
בְעוּלָ֖ה1xḇə·‘ū·lāhIsaiah 54:1
בְּעוּלָ֑ה1xbə·‘ū·lāhIsaiah 62:4
בָּעֲל֥וּ1xbā·‘ă·lū1 Chronicles 4:22
בְּעָל֥וּנוּ1xbə·‘ā·lū·nūIsaiah 26:13
בֹעֲלַ֙יִךְ֙1xḇō·‘ă·la·yiḵIsaiah 54:5
בְּעֻ֥לַת1xbə·‘u·laṯGenesis 20:3
בְעֻֽלַת־1xḇə·‘u·laṯ-Deuteronomy 22:22
בָּעַ֣לְתִּי1xbā·‘al·tîJeremiah 3:14
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular2xProverbs 30:23, Isaiah 62:4
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular2xJeremiah 3:14, Jeremiah 31:32
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular2xIsaiah 54:1, Isaiah 62:4
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular construct2xGenesis 20:3, Deuteronomy 22:22
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular1xDeuteronomy 21:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xMalachi 2:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular1xDeuteronomy 24:1
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | second person feminine singular1xIsaiah 62:5
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Mastery semantically grounds marriage; the husband exercises proprietary dominion over the wife in patriarchal ideology
Strong'sH1166
Lexical occurrences16 versesWord forms2 forms10 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 62:1-5Source Gloss
to be master ; hence, to marry
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Mastery semantically grounds marriage; the husband exercises proprietary dominion over the wife in patriarchal ideology
to be master; hence, to marry BDB: marry Usage: have dominion (over), be husband, marry(-ried, × wife).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms10
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense8×
Participle passiveDeut 22:22 · Gen 20:3 · Isa 54:1 · Isa 62:44×
PerfectJer 3:14 · Jer 31:32 · 1Chr 4:223×
ImperfectIsa 62:51×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action2×
ImperfectIsa 62:4 · Prov 30:232×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
to take a wife in marriage, establishing spousal relationship and dominion
Showing 1 selected witness from 16 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.